Saturday, April 14, 2007

Playoff Game #3 - vs Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins

Series tied 1-1.

This is the game where we get to see just how much the Pens have in the tank. They snuck out of Ottawa with a split, despite being outplayed in both games (though not as badly in game 2). The Flightless Birds need to come out with a vengeance and take the game to the Senators.

Michel Therrien needs to be able to roll four lines, especially after the rough game just 24 hours prior. That means that a contribution from Ruutu, Christensen, Petro or whoever is on that fourth line would be invaluable. So far, Therrien hasn't been afraid to shorten the bench. Let's hope that doesn't come back to bite him.

The Senators have been leaning heavily on their big line (Spezza, Heatley and Alfredsson), all of them playing almost 23 minutes in Saturday's contest. Let's hope that DOES come back to bite Brian Murray.

You'd think that Therrien might be tempted to start Thibault, but given how strong Fleury finished up game 2, along with how valuable a home sweep would be, I can't see it happening.

If the Pens can manage to win game 3, they put the pressure squarely on the backs of the Senators, who would absolutely want to avoid going back to Ottawa down 3-1.